Can opener



y 13, 1952 v. FORSTROM 2,596,476

CAN OPENER Filed NOV. 29, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Victor F orsrrom INVENTOR.

Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER Victor Forstrom, Roundup, Mont. Application November 29, 1948, Serial No. 62,475

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to newand useful improvements in can openers and more particularly to a fixedly mounted can opener and against which a can is held and opened by a rocking movement of the can.

An important object of the invention is to provide a fixedly mounted rockable can support and mounting a knife at the top of the can support arranged to penetrate the top of the can by a rocking movement of the support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opener which is secured in a fixed position to prevent loss or misplacement thereof and operating to punch an opening in a can when held by one hand of a person, thus leaving the other hand free for other purposes.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, efiicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the rockable can support in position for receiving a can;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the support moved into a position for punching the can;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a group perspective view of the cutter and attaching block therefor.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates a fiat base which may be secured to any suitable supporting structure, preferably in a horizontal position. A channel shaped forwardly inclined standard 6 is secured to the base 5 by flanges 1 and screws 8 and a channel shaped link 9 is pivoted at its lower end to the upper end of standard 6 by a pivot pin or screw I 0 and the upper end of the link is formed with a forwardly extending arm I l to which one end of a cutter block I2 is pivotally secured by a bolt and nut or the like l3.

A cutter I4 is detachably secured on top of the block 12 by bolts or the like l5 and is formed at its front end with a downwardly inclined can penetrating prong l6.

An upstanding can support is designated generally at I 1 and is pivotally connected at its upper end to the front end of cutter block I2 by means of a bolt and nut or the like l8. The lower end of can support I I is rockably or pivotall; connected to a lug l 9 rising from base 5 by means of a pivot or bolt and nut to provide a forward and backward rocking movement for the can support.

The can support 11 is also preferably of channel construction and is formed at its lower end with a forwardly projecting can rest 2! and is provided at its vertical front edges with outwardly inclined wings 22 forming a vertically extending channel shaped seat for receiving the side of a can 23 when placed on the can rest 2! as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

In the operation of the device the inclined position of standard 6 normally causes the link 9 and cutter M to swing the can support I! forwardly into the position as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings in a position for receiving a can 23 on the can rest 2| under the can penetrating prong I5. By forcing the can 23 rearwardly the can support I! is rocked in a rearward direction and the linkage connections 9 and I 2 between the upper end of the can support I1 and the standard 6 will force the prong I5 downwardly to penetrate the top of the can as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The cutter I 4 may be easily removed from the block I!) for cleaning or sharpening, when desired. I

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A can opener comprising a fixed upstanding support, an upstanding rockable can support, a vertically swingable cutter pivoted to the upper end of the can support, and a vertically swingable link pivotally connecting the cutter to the upper end of the fixed support and adapted for moving the cutter downwardly into can punching position with a can held onthe can support upon a predetermined movement of the can support 7 relative to the fixed support.

to the upper end of the fixed member and adapted.

for moving the cutter downwardly into a position for punching the can upon a predeterminedrrock r ing movement of the can support.

3. A can punch comprising'an upstanding fixed support and an upstanding relative movablesup;

port, a can rest on the lower portion of the movable support, a prongwpivotally connected to the movablelsupportv abouefith'e can, rest, and a} link pivoted at one end to the upper end of'thefixed support and. pivoted at its other end to the Ipr'ong and adapted'for moving the prongf downwardly 2 into; canrpunching position with a; can supported on the-can rest .uporia movement oflthemovable support toyvard tiiepfixed support.

4. A can punch comprising an upstanding fixed support and an upstanding relative movable support, a can rest on the lower portion of the movable support, a prong pivotally connected to the movable support above the can rest, and a link pivoted at one end to the upper end of the fixed support and pivoted at its other end to the prong and adapted for moving the prong downward ll into can-punching position with a can supported on the. canfrestupon a movement ofnthe movable support-toward the fixed support, said prongbeing Withdrawn from the can upon an opposite movement of the movable support, and said movable support holdinga punctured can in an inclined position with its punctured portion uppermost after rthe puncturing and Withdrawing operation of the prong. V

j v VICTOR FORSTROM,

REFERENCES CITED The following reierences-are of record in the l f? his new UNITED-n STATES PATENT Number Name Date 256,398 Stoddard Oct. 24, 1882 2,273,204. Hothersall Feb. 10, 1942 

